Mark Kozelek helps raise money for West Memphis Three

Damien Echols. Jason Baldwin. Jessie Misskelley, Jr. Together they're known as the West Memphis Three, a trio of Arkansas men convicted in 1994 for murdering and sexually mutilating three elementary school boys. Echols, the eldest, was sentenced to death by lethal injection. Baldwin and Misskelley were sentenced to life in prison.

Their case has drawn considerable attention from all corners, as many believe the three to be innocent of their crimes and victims of a botched police investigation. Count folk singer/songwriter Mark Kozelek as one of those believers. Kozelek said after he saw Paradise Lost, the HBO documentary on the murders and the subsequent investigation, he felt compelled to get involved.

"I usually don't get involved in a benefit unless the cause is really important to me," Kozelek said in a statement. "These guys are innocent, and unfortunately, represent just a few of many arrested, convicted, jailed, and sometimes executed for crimes they didn't commit."

In an effort to raise money for their cause, Kozelek will be auctioning off a number of items, like autographed records and posters and books, here and also at his web site. The auctions will last until Dec. 18.

On a lighter note, Kozelek's album as Sun Kil Moon, April, was good. Damn good. So good, in fact, we put it as number eight on our year-end list. Meanwhile, that busy body Kozelek dropped a rarities album just yesterday (Dec. 9). Phew. Hard to keep up with that guy...